Copyright law often struggles to catch up with new developments in media and technology. While the modern era of reality television took flight with the debut of “The Real World” more than two decades ago, case law regarding copyright infringement of formats for reality television is comparatively underdeveloped.
Recent decisions have presented a dilemma: whether courts should apply to these situations the so-called extrinsic test the Ninth Circuit uses to assess infringement of literary and dramatic works. And, if so, how? The answers have important ramifications for lawyers and their clients seeking copyright protection for reality formats and other unscripted content. Applying a test designed for scripted works to reality formats, as some rulings have done, calls into question whether courts in the Ninth Circuit are prepared to afford copyright protection to reality television formats.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law are third party online distributors of the broad collection of current and archived versions of ALM's legal news publications. LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information.
For questions call 1-877-256-2472 or contact us at [email protected]
